Cole: 'Rebecca has a bright future'

Cheryl Cole has claimed that X Factor runner-up Rebecca Ferguson has a bright future in the music industry.

The Girls Aloud star said that losing out to Matt Cardle in last night's grand final doesn't mean Ferguson's career opportunities are over.

"I think the future is bright and this is the start of a life-changing moment for Rebecca," she said. "She is an amazing person with a great heart and she deserved to go far.

"She knows what she is and knows what she wants to be and we've seen that over the weeks."

Meanwhile, Ferguson praised her mentor for keeping faith in her during the competition.

"I'm happy. I’m really happy," she said. "I'm very grateful to Cheryl and [vocal coach] Yvie [Burnett]. I'm just a lot wiser and lot more confident now. Hopefully I can carry on making music. I would love to."